I have included a picture of Will Smith and his dog Sam from the movie I am Legend:
-Paul D.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Man's Best Friend
Chris’ dog Buck in Into the Wild made me think about Will Smith’s dog Sam in the movie I am Legend. Chris was emotionally attached to Buck: “Chris was crazy about Buck… That summer he disappeared he’d wanted to take Buck with him. After he graduated from Emory, he asked Mom and Dad if he could come get Buck, but they said no…” (Krakauer 128). Similarly, Will loves his dog and makes sure she is safe at all times, even before himself. Because there are barely any humans left, Will is left with only his dog to relate to. I think Chris found it easier to relate to his dog Buck rather than his family because he considers the dog as part of nature and considers him to be less judgmental. As part of his romantic (nature-oriented) viewpoint on life, I think Chris would agree with the fact that humans are corrupting nature, and therefore sees his dog as a way to get closer the wild. Additionally, as with Will Smith, Chris wouldn’t put Buck in any situation where he thought the dog could get hurt: “Chris wouldn’t think twice about risking his own life, but he never would have put Buckley in any kind of danger. There’s no way he would have taken the same kind of chances if Buck had been with him” (Krakauer 128). Because of this, Chris’ family now believes that letting him take the dog would have saved his life, as he wouldn’t have been so risky and care-free during his adventure in Alaska. Will Smith acts more cautiously and is able to keep his cool during the hardships and dangerous events that take place in I am Legend because he has his dog Sam right by his side. Though only a small amount of information is written about Buck and his owner Chris in Into the Wild, Buck is arguably the difference between life and death for Chris.
I have included a picture of Will Smith and his dog Sam from the movie I am Legend:
-Paul D.
I have included a picture of Will Smith and his dog Sam from the movie I am Legend:
-Paul D.
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I like this post a lot because I am a movie fanatic, though i have not seen this movie yet. However, I also noticed the special connection that Chris had with his dog Buck. I found it interesting how Chris wanted to share his journey with the dog by taking on his journey, and yet wanted to leave his own family completely out of his plans. When he goes on his trips, he hardly ever writes, calls, or contacts his family in any form. Yet he would be willing to take his dog, who can barely walk, on his travels across the country. One could argue that Chris must have a closer connection with animals, and all things in nature, than people themselves. Will Smith seemed to have little choice but to bring himself closer to his dog because obviously no humans were around.
ReplyDelete-Mitchell Ward
I think this post is really interseting, and i agree with a lot of what was said. I think Chris probably valued the simplicity of Buck's life and how he was unburdoned with all the things that chris wants to distance himslef from in society. I also found it really interesting how chris wanted to remove himslef from society, yet take his dog with him. Also how his parents wouldn't let him take the dog, and had he had been allowed to might have survived his alaskan odessey.It really makes you wonder about the huge differences that something small, like a dog, can make. It could have competley changed Chris' life.
ReplyDeleteYou make a great point saying that Buck might have been the difference between life and death for Chris, because according to Chris' family, Chris would never put Buck in a dangerous situation. However, I don't think that Chris would have enjoyed Buck being with him. First of all, during his journey, Chris does not show any signs of loneliness that would make it seem like having Buck would have made Chris happier. And because Chris would never want to put Buck in a life threatening situation, i think he would constantly be having mentally straining battles between keeping Buck safe and going on his journey into Alaska.
ReplyDeleteI'm interested to read this, as I hadn't thought about Buck honestly for longer than he was mentioned. I agree that Buck's companionship may have proved to save Chris's life, but only to a degree. Yes, he would have chosen some of the less dangerous and risky choices laid before him but, Chris still grew an element of introversion and a willingness to shed ties with his family. Though at first he was more tightly tied to his family, especially his sister, he let them go to live on his own. I think similarly He might eventually let Buck go in his self critical attempts to isolate himself further.
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ReplyDeleteDogs are rightly known as man's best friend. As Chris is too into the wild to make very powerful connections with people or to have people understand hime, he turns to the dog. As you said, dogs are a part of nature that man has brought into his home, his habitiat. That fact makes pets like Buck even more critical to him, an person especially connected to nature. He feels isolated in his high classs suburban life that he was embarresed about- Buck is the only connection to something more real, more meaningful and substantial then money and possetions. A relationship with a dog also cannot be tumbled by adultery, or superficial disputes, they are essentailly as pure of fault as anything in nature. Chris needs that while dealing with the turmoil caused by his father's very human mistake and other mistakes by other people that is human to make. I have a dog named Snoopy and while I love him enough to understand whats best for him, Chris might not have that same leval of critical thinking; we all already know what Chris believes is benficail to an 80 year old man... What can we assume would Chris see as a benefical situation to the dog?
ReplyDeleteThe point you make about Buck being the difference between life or death for Chris, but I don't necessarily think that this is the case. It's possible that if Chris did bring Buck with him, he could have accidentally gotten them into a situation that neither of them could get out of. Even if Chris never actually means to put his dog in danger, he could unknowingly get the two of them in too deep into trouble. Chris clearly was not as prepared as he thought to be in the wild on his own, so if he can't take care of himself he probably can't take care of both himself and a dog.
ReplyDeleteAdding onto what Shannon said, i believe that if Chris took Buck along with him on his adventure; no matter how careful, or how much he tried, it wouldn't be of any use to both of their safety. In I Am Legend, Will Smith's dog dies in the end even though Will was the extremely careful and meticulous while living among the monsters. He did everything he could, but eventually, like all the other people in the world, he lost his last companion. If Buck had gone with Chris, he could have gotten wiped out in that flash flood, or gotten lost, or hurt; all these things that Chris couldn't have prevented. Chris also has some trouble looking after himself, the dog would just be another burden; more burden than friend. Chris also doesn't believe in society, and has faith in the truthfulness of nature. Dogs were bred my men to be loyal, obedient, and gentle. It would go against his adventure to have this another reminder of society with him. Also Chris makes choices not to get tied down with relationships with people. His relationship with Buck is there until one of them dies. Evidently, it will be Chris and Buck will never know what happens.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing i would like to say is that I love the movie I am Legend. I thought it was a perfect comparison top make to Into the Wild. When I was reading the scene about how much Chris loved the family dog, it aroused many questions. Like what would have happened if Chris had taken the dog with him on his journey? Would he still be alive today if he had his furry companion by his side? Although these question could never be answered it brings forward the relationship that humans tend to have with dogs. Like you said in your post the people are less likely to act as reckless if they are also responsible for a pet or dog. A person's main priority would be keeping the dog safe rather than being selfish and risking their life for the benefit adventure and knowledge. So overall I really love your comparison, cause I could see the human to dog relationship that will smith had with his dog, being just like Chris McCandless.
ReplyDeleteI think it speaks volumes that Chris's closest companion is an animal. Like you I have seen the movie and I really enjoyed it. The similarities are noticeable. However, instead of being force into a survival situation like the characters in the movie, Chris chooses to me Buck his closest companion. To me, this shows tha Chris has trouble relating to other people, especially on the emotional level. Because he did't have good people skills and was somewhat disgusted with most of the human race, Buck was probably a breath of fresh air to him. Buck was a thorougly loyal, unjudgemental companion, which is what I believe Chris really craved.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very good connection to a great movie. I was also thinking that Chris's dog was similar to a movie, but i could not think of which one. I am Legend is a great movie and has alot of similarities to the book Into The Wild. In the book and the movie, both of the protagonists turn to their dogs because they are lonely and have no one else to turn to. Both their dogs stick with them through everything, and accept them when no one else will. Both main characteers are very clost to their dogs and the dogs rely on them just as much as the humans rely on the dogs. A dog is commonly refered to "a man's best friend" and it is showed very well through this movie and this book. This is a great connection that i agree with alot.
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ReplyDeleteThis post raised a mildly interesting, but fairly obvious point. I thought that was Jon Krakauer's idea in mentioning Buck in the first place, and needed no further explanation.
ReplyDeleteAlso, a romantic view is not just "nature-oriented" but instead involves emotion and spontaneity. While Chris is very spontaneous, and I would call him a romantic, the love of nature is only one part of it.